Beach Buzz: Caroling event to serenade Lincoln Road

The Cabaret South Beach at the National Hotel, in conjunction with Lululemon Athletica, will host a Christmas caroling event on Lincoln Road at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

The event is free and open to the public. Carolers are invited to gather in front of Lululemon (site of the former Van Dyke Café, 846 Lincoln Rd.). Singing will commence at 8 p.m. when the group, headed by Randy Singer, former musical director at Van Dyke, and vocalist/singing teacher Novell Allen, will be led throughout Lincoln Road to the Euclid Circle.

The carolers will then stroll over to The Cabaret at the National Hotel, 1677 Collins Ave., for a party from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. It will feature holiday cocktails and appetizers (for sale), a costume contest for the most festive outfits and a toy drive benefiting the After-School All-Stars South Florida (attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped gift).

There’s no charge to enter or remain at the bar. A full dinner menu is available as well as a tapas menu in the lounge (two-item minimum per person). Founder of The Cabaret is longtime Miami Beach resident Edison Farrow.

MERRY MATCHMAKING

Where do Jewish singles go on Christmas Eve? For many, it’s The MatzoBall. The 29th annual networking/matchmaking bash takes place Thursday at two locations on Miami Beach.

For singles ages 21-35, the party will again be held at LIV at the Fontainebleau (4441 Collins Ave.) from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m.

For more “mature” singles (ages 25 to 55), there’s a smaller, more upscale event at Radio Bar, 814 First St., from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Guests will be carded to ensure they are over 25.

Singles of all ages are invited to the second annual MatzoSplash from noon to 6 p.m. Christmas Day at the Fontainebleau pool for a Vegas-style pool party featuring DJ Razor.

MatzoBall was founded in 1987 by Boca Raton resident Andrew Rudnick (in his native Boston) to bring Jewish singles together on a night when most venues are closed.

Rudnick, 51, met his wife, Catherine, at a 1997 MatzoBall in Boston. Married 17 years, the couple has three daughters, 16-year-old twins Alexa and Samantha and 10-year-old Sasha.

“I still look forward to this thing every year. It never gets old for me,” Rudnick said. “Afterward, I get PMS — Post Matzo Syndrome. It’s like a wedding, but I get to do it every year.”

This year, there will be 19 MatzoBalls held simultaneously in 15 cities throughout the United States including New York, Los Angeles and Delray Beach. The event at LIV is the biggest, according to Rudnick — and the one that he attends.

MatzoBall 2015 is co-hosted by the Society of Young Jewish Professionals.

General admission is $50 at LIV; $40 at Radio Bar; $30 for MatzoSplash. Combo packages are available. For tickets or info, visit www.matzoball.org.

SAVOR AT STUDIO J

About 450 people are expected to attend the Miami Beach JCC’s “Savor at Studio J” fundraiser at 8 p.m. Jan. 9.

The event will honor three Miami Beach couples who were instrumental in the creation of the facility three years ago and who remain involved today: Mojdeh and Robert Danial, Randi and Teig Lawrence and Adrienne and Stevan Pardo.

The party, with a Studio 54 disco theme, will be held in an air-conditioned tent on the property’s athletic field. It will feature entertainment by singer-songwriter Samantha Gibb (daughter of Maurice and Yvonne; niece of Barry); décor by Raffi Grosz from Petal Productions; catering by Food Art caterers; and DJ/emcee Adam Haas.

Chairs for the event are Rochelle and Robert Finvarb, Loren and David Kaiserman, Shoshanna and Scott Wagner and Rachel and Jeffrey Weissman.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

The holidays can be a difficult time for many people, me included. I’ve come up with an acronym to help. It’s about staying in the “Z.O.N.E.”, which stands for “Zero or No Expectations.” When we lower our expectations, it’s harder to be disappointed. Best wishes for a happy and healthy New Year for all.

Beach Buzz appears every other Sunday, and focuses on people and businesses throughout the Beaches, Aventura and Miami. To reach Debra K. Leibowitz, call 305-531-7887 or email beachbuzz@att.net, or become a fan of her Beach Buzz page on Facebook.

MatzoBall founder Andrew Rudnick with his wife Catherine (left) and three daughters. The couple met at a 1997 MatzoBall.

Samantha Gibb to perform at fundraiser

Leibowitz

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